The Selfish Giant

Based on one of Oscar Wilde's stories for children, this short feature focuses on a garden surrounding a castle occupied by a giant. While the giant is off visiting his friend the ogre, children play in the garden; when he returns, he chases them away and builds a high wall around the garden to keep out all trespassers. Winter comes to call, and a perpetual bleak chill settles on the garden, and the giant grows increasingly lonely, until the children find their way back in, and break the spell that keeps spring out. The giant opens his heart to them, and from them (one in particular) learns of the mysterious power of love. 　　- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 　　The Selfish Giant is an animated short film adaptation of the short story by Oscar Wilde. The film was produced in 1971 by the Canadian-based Potterton Productions and by Pyramid Films. It earned a 44th Academy Award nomination in the animated Short Subject category. One of the film's animators was Micheline Lanctôt. 　　The film first aired on Canadian television in November 1972 on CTV.